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Sept - Coffee Talk Tuesday Summary

Relationship Strategies = Better Behavior

Thank you to everyone who joined us this week for our monthly Coffee Talk chat.

If you missed it, please register for the next one on Oct. 10. 2023 on our Events page.

In recent years, classrooms across the globe have been facing a growing concern: the rise of student behavior problems. Disruptions, disengagement, and conflicts have become all too common, affecting not only the learning environment but also hindering student achievement. While various strategies have been proposed to tackle this issue, one approach stands out as particularly effective - building strong relationships between teachers and students.

This was the topic of our most recent Coffee Talk Tuesday.

Here are some of the strategies to build strong relationships shared by participants on September 12th, 2023 :

  • Community circles/morning meetings

  • Question of the day

  • Social stories

  • Object pass

  • Teaching, using, sharing Zones of Regulation

  • Check-in at the door

  • Teaching, practicing, and reviewing classwide expectations with a focus on what does this expectation/behavior sound like, look like, and feel like?

  • Frequent and positive reinforcement of both staff and students

  • Reteach staff that PBIS/MTSS tickets or points are opportunities to build relationships each and every time a student is acknowledged for meeting expectations

  • All About Me/Student Identity questionnaire

  • Connections with siblings, family = learning about the students culture and community

  • Equitable practices - circling choices vs. open ended questions

  • Identifying students with or without adult relationships by staff knowledge - every student’s name is displayed, and staff members indicate (sticker, dot, tally, comment) when they know a personal detail about each student. Students without indications are those at-risk.

  • Gratitude Walls for students and staff is a place that is visible and accessible to all

  • Virtual/Online school Gratitude Walls: use a shared google slide to create a gallery display of student work or voice visible to all

  • Student surveys/check in’s/opportunities for communication

  • Providing opportunities for student involvement and interaction with staff at at no cost events (lunch club, dances, kick ball games)

  • Ask students/staff to share a favorite song - play song and audience has to guess who the song ‘belongs’ to.

Check out our Insight Blog to learn an additional 20+ Strategies to Build Relationships and Reduce Behavior Problems